Lowe on alert over 100m Nokia task

Beleagured agency Lowe is understood to have been put on alert by Nokia, as the handset manufacturer considers moving the business into Wieden & Kennedy.

Lowe handles Nokia’s NSeries business, worth an estimated £100m globally.

It is understood the handset maker is “concerned” about the future of its relationship with the troubled agency and has had conversations about the “scope” of its work.

Nokia does not have any UK business with Lowe after a global alignment at Christmas, but the agency kept the NSeries account.

Lowe was appointed to create a global advertising campaign for its NSeries phones in 2005. The campaign was understood to be Nokia’s largest for years. At the time, the move was a big blow to incumbent Grey, as Nokia’s entire budget was shifting towards its high-end phones.

Nokia is also in the process of reviewing its multi million-pound global sponsorship and trade marketing accounts (MW October 2). It is predicted that the sponsorship pitch could have an impact on the structure of Nokia’s agency roster, which includes Interpublic agencies Lowe, Jack Morton and DraftFCB.

Wieden & Kennedy is involved in some sponsorship campaigns, but it focuses mainly on creating brand work for the handset maker.